but she's been working for mccaskill. >> claire is a strong woman, strong convictions. she's tried to work with both sides. but we get the reaction from the "persuasion" people that we're calling that they don't want to vote for claire mccaskill because they think that she's too much connected to president obama. but when we talk about it more and when they find out more about who todd akin is, they say "well, i don't like him either." and a non-vote is pretty much an assistance to claire. >> ifill: but after akin refused to get out of the race-- and as national republicans began to worry the missouri seat might cost them control of the senate -- some akin critics, including senator roy blunt, have returned to the fold. still, the party rift remains. former republican senator john danforth, a force in the st. louis community, said he would rather write in a candidate than support akin. >> i can understand their position. i mean, it's like counting apples. you know, they're saying, "well, we need 50 or 51 in the senate and he's one person who's competing for a seat." but